When
Maya Bouldry-Morrison
debuted as
Octo Octa
in 2011, she immediately seemed like the
100% Silk
artist who had the most comfortable relationship with classic and contemporary house. The first release from the Brooklyn-based producer, a four-track 12" highlighted by the giddy longing of the
Amerie
-sampling "I'm Trying," was made with the intent to move bodies on and away from dancefloors. The combination of rich and direct rhythms with narcotizing textures hinted at a love for similarly affecting, multi-purpose records produced by
the Burrell Brothers
and
Bobby Konders
. On
Between Two Selves
, her first album -- also released on
--
Bouldry-Morrison
crafts a more refined batch of house tracks that exposes a wider emotional range. Many of the vocal samples are pitched down; "Come Closer," "Bad Blood, and "Fear" pack seductive, churning menace. "His Kiss," buoyed by sharp breakbeat accents, is dizzying and euphoric, while "Please Don't Leave" is all longing ache ("I don't want you to go") with rattling percussion and a buried bittersweet melody. The only track without deeply emotional content is the functional "Work Me," a scuffy workout that is surprisingly physical. The album could have easily been split to make for
's third and fourth EPs, but it succeeds as a 50-minute sequence with remarkably steady quality control. ~ Andy Kellman